I recently had the opportunity to spend several weeks with the latest generation of the Ressence TYPE 1 Round and compare it with my personal TYPE 1, one of the first ever created, which I have owned for many years now. There’s so much to share about my journey with owning a Ressence watch, so in this post, I’ll delve into various aspects of the experience. I’ll cover how I came to own it, the emotions of wearing it, the versatility of watches from independent watchmakers, and what it takes to maintain such a watch. I’ll also guide you through the evolution of the Type 1, from the very first model to the latest iteration. Let’s dive in!
How I came to own a Ressence TYPE 1.
Ressence watches are more than just timepieces; they reflect a state of mind. You need to be truly ready for them, both mentally and emotionally. This is the story of how I came to own a Ressence TYPE 1.
I first discovered Ressence watches in 2014, just four years after the brand was founded. My introduction happened in Munich, where a few enthusiasts were representing the brand. Shortly after, I met Benoît, the founder of Ressence, along with his team at Baselworld. From that moment on, I followed the brand closely, always admiring their work. Benoît entered the watchmaking world from a different industry and managed to create a watch so unique, it stands apart from anything else on the market. His idea was to make a mechanical watch that replicates the experience of looking at a digital screen. Although I was captivated by the design and identity of the brand, I felt I wasn’t quite ready to own one—neither mentally nor financially.
Over the years, I helped several collectors from different countries in acquiring Ressence watches (which, at the time, were much harder to find than they are today). These collectors were some of the most genuine and easygoing people I’ve encountered in the watch world—kind, trustworthy, and spontaneous enough to fly in from another country the next day to pick up a watch. Seeing the kind of people who bought Ressence watches only deepened my admiration for the brand. Yet, despite this, I still didn’t feel ready to own one—though it was only a matter of mental readiness this time.
That changed in late 2021. One day, I found myself holding a few Ressence TYPE 1 models to show a collector, and I realized that the time had come for me to own one too. It wasn’t a spontaneous decision; rather, it was the culmination of a long journey.
Reflecting on the moment I made the decision, I realized this: When your mind and life are in harmony—when you feel calm, balanced, and confident, when you surround yourself only with what truly matters, and when you know how to discard the unnecessary—that’s when you’re ready to own a Ressence watch.
Emotions of wearing the Ressence watches
You buy Ressence watches for yourself—to enjoy the design, the unique and pure expression of time, and to have a reminder of your inner mood on your wrist.
It’s a niche brand, known mostly by hardcore watch enthusiasts, and that’s part of its charm. Despite its high price, you can wear it safely almost anywhere, as it flies under the radar for the ‘bad guys’ on the street. On the other hand, be prepared for plenty of interest from the ‘good guys’—your colleagues, friends, and even random people you meet at a bar. Whether they’re design enthusiasts, fans of architecture, or simply curious about fine things, people are drawn to this unusual watch.
When I started wearing the Ressence TYPE 1, I was amazed by how often people asked about it—more so than with any other watch, be it a Rolex, AP, or anything else. It’s worth learning all the details about this watch beforehand because the reactions are priceless when you explain that it’s a mechanical watch and how it functions. This watch is a fantastic conversation starter with the right people.
Versatility of the watch
The Ressence TYPE 1 became my everyday watch. Once you start wearing watches from Ressence, it becomes an addiction—you’ll find it hard to switch to anything else. There’s one big reason for this: the comfort. It’s truly unique and unbeatable. First of all, the TYPE 1 is made of titanium, making it incredibly light. Second, the TYPE 1 has no crown; all the magic of winding and setting the day and time happens on the caseback. The absence of a crown is a game-changer for comfort. Lastly, there’s the tactile experience. Just holding the watch is a pleasure in itself. The case is shaped like a cut-out section of a sphere, the dial has a 125 mm radius curve, and the caseback is made of sapphire. The watch feels soft and smooth, perfectly complementing the unique design of the dial.
My lifestyle isn’t particularly extreme, so I don’t need a watch like a G-Shock for my weekdays. That’s why the Ressence TYPE 1 is quite suitable as my everyday watch, even considering its water resistance is only up to 10 meters. Thanks to the hardness of titanium, I don’t have to worry about scratches on the case, which is a weighty argument for me. As a result, my TYPE 1 accompanies me to work meetings, watch events, and even on evening bike rides after finishing my work. However, if you need something more durable with proper water resistance and still want a Ressence, you should consider their diver’s watch, the TYPE 5.
Maintenance costs of Ressence TYPE 1.
One of the biggest concerns people have about owning a watch from independent brands is the maintenance cost. Many assume it’s extremely expensive. However, the reality is different. Independent brands often take better care of their customers than big brands and strive to keep service expenses as reasonable as possible. This is certainly true with Ressence.
My personal Ressence TYPE 1 isn’t new; in fact, when I bought it, it had already been in use for quite some time. Shortly after I became its owner, I decided to send it in for service. A few days before I was supposed to send it out, the sapphire glass back fell off. I later learned that this was a common issue with epoxy bonding of the sapphire glass to the titanium components on the very early TYPE 1 models, specifically serial numbers 1 to 50 per color. This is also mentioned in the latest catalogue that Ressence has published.
The service cost was absolutely reasonable, somewhere between 600 and 800 euros. For comparison, the basic service for an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with three hands costs double that amount. And the entire experience was as smooth as you could hope for. The team at Ressence organized everything; all I had to do was open the door and hand the package to the courier. So, maintenance costs shouldn’t be an obstacle to owning a watch from an independent brand.
The night look
If you’ve ever wondered how the TYPE 1° Round looks at night, well, here it is. The readability is just as simple and efficient at night as it is during the day, thanks to the extra-strong Super-LumiNova®.
Evolution of the TYPE 1 models
Probably my favorite part of this article is the opportunity to compare the very first TYPE 1.1 CH (Champagne) with the latest TYPE 1 Round and show you the evolution of these models.
The first generation of TYPE 1
There are 9 years between them; the TYPE 1.1 CH was produced between 2014 and 2015. This particular example is one of the earliest ones. According to the Ressence Catalogue, ‘Some very early examples of the TYPE 1 allowed for a full 360° manual winding, though this was quickly reduced to just 12 to avoid overwinding the movement when setting the watch. This generation is recognizable because the caseback includes “Antwerp” underneath the Ressence logo, and the disc-shaped rotor is visible through the sapphire glass back.’ The final assembly of these early watches was completed in Belgium.
This watch is equipped with a modified ETA 2824A movement and the in-house ROCS 1 module, offering a power reserve of 36 hours. The caseback is used to wind the watch and set the time and day of the week.
While I appreciate this minimalistic approach and the sleekness of the sapphire caseback, setting the day of the week requires rotating the caseback a full 24 hours to change from one day to the next. So, you can imagine how long it takes to set the day from Monday to Friday. It can also be quite challenging if your fingers are greasy, as rotating the sapphire caseback for such a duration becomes tricky. The team at Ressence listened to this feedback, and three years later, with the update to the ETA 2892A, they introduced a quick-set mechanism for the day of the week, allowing it to jump by rotating the caseback just 12 minutes. Additionally, Ressence began using a titanium caseback with a lever setting mechanism for easier adjustment, which dramatically improved usability. This feature has now become a Ressence staple.
The latest generation of TYPE 1
The TYPE 1 Round made its return in 2023 when Ressence decided to revert to a more essential design after experimenting with the Slim and Square cases.
The case of the TYPE 1 Round increased to 42.7 mm due to some requirements from the supplier. However, the watch also became thinner—now measuring 11 mm compared to the 13.2 mm of the first version. This was made possible thanks to the new case construction and the use of the thinner calibre 2892, combined with the latest generation of the ROCS 1.3 module. The power reserve remains at 36 hours, and the watch weighs just 64 grams, including the strap and buckle.
The case, with its double-domed sapphire crystal top, has become more rounded and sleek. It now reminds me very much of its bigger sibling, the TYPE 3.
Final words
To me, the TYPE 1 Round represents the core of the brand and embodies what Ressence stands for today. It’s the best watch to enter the world of Ressence. After a long and challenging journey of refining and fine-tuning the smallest details, learning, listening, and improving again, the watch has been perfected. Priced at CHF 18,150 (excluding tax), it sits somewhere in the middle of the brand’s lineup. Now, would I replace my TYPE 1 CH with the latest model? If it comes down to selecting just one product from the two, without any emotional attachments, my answer would be a definite yes. However, there are too many sentimental moments attached to my current watch, which I want to keep alive, and the best way to do that is by looking at it. Oh, and that grey dial is just insanely cool.
More details about Ressence watches on ressencewatches.com
Here you can find my first impressions of the TYPE 1 Round when it was introduced at Watches & Wonders 2023: https://todayonthewrist.com/introducing-the-ressence-type-1-round/
